277
662
137
12
13
15
12
3
10
32
6
15
1
2
17
25
2
8
6
2
4
3
2
5
7
1
2
4
7
21
19
36
We need to learn how to listen, not just hear.
What a great surprise this show was. Not gonna lie, I am a bit tired of the “child/teen/young people with a variety of issues/illnesses/disorders/etc being taken care of by irresponsible new guardians just so the guardian can have pretty character development” - these stories simply often feel exploitative. Using one main character just to give another change of heart does not sit well with me. How happy can I be when this show is not that. Cho Sang Gu is not this extremely selfish asshole, Han Geu Roo does not get mistreated, it's just two people who slowly learn how to cooperate and live with each other.What the drama excelled at was telling different stories related to death, grief, regret, fear, abandonment, reflection on the past and what it means for the future. The separate cases presented in each episode were amazing and tackled a true variety of situations: lack of protection for people with disabilities, abandonment of elderly parents with cognitive issues, stalking and the psychological effects it might have on the victim, lgbtq, self-inflicted euthanasia, bullying, guardianship, searching for your own place and your family. Only 10 episodes, yet so many touching stories.
At the same time, I did feel like the main characters were rather stagnant. I did like all of them, especially Han Geu Roo, but it’s also the fact that the development that happened to some of them was really subtle, so subtle one could argue they started and ended up on the same note. The story was mostly about things that happened to them and around them, and not within them. And the few things that did lead to certain reflections were mostly opening and closing acts, and were not that impactful to everything in the middle (Geu Roo dealing with loss and Sang Gu finding out the truth and accepting his new family).
One thing I especially appreciated was the fact Geu Roo’s ASD never felt like the center of the story. It was not a story of an autistic young man learning how to deal with loss, it was a story of Geu Roo dealing with loss and learning how to live with all the changes happening around him. I don’t know how to explain it, but the presentation was just more sensible? His character was not just ASD, he was fun, and determined, curious, caring, striving to improve, respectable and responsible. It was not a story about Geu Roo having ASD, it just happened that Geu Roo who was the main character also had ASD. While it was obviously an integral part of the story, it never felt overwhelming.
Performance wise - amazing. I don’t think anyone would argue that Tang Jun Sang as Geu Roo was the start of the show. I can only imagine how much research he must have done to deliver such a believable and emotionally rich performance. Lee Je Hoon is always great, but I am a bit tired of him playing quite similar characters lately. Great performance, but I feel like I already saw it. I have nothing to complain about Hong Seung Hee as Yoo Na Mu, but since her character was the least developed, there is not that much to praise. I am impressed with the long list of amazing actors who participated in the production just for the guest roles. I can see that many people with experience valued what the show is and wanted to be a part of it.
I barely ever have anything to say about the production value in Korean dramas because they usually have similar standards. It’s high, but not memorable. Everything works perfectly, but nothing truly stands out. Here I had a similar issue. One thing I did enjoy was the way they visually presented Geu Roo’s analytical mind and how he connected the information he acquired.
Overall, an amazing show with great stories. I did think it was just slightly too positive in separate cases - wish we had seen some leaning more towards “failure” and see how the characters react to it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Rediscovering your relationship as you move from friends to lovers.
Well this was wholesome and adorable. Just the right amount of sweet pinning, unsure feelings and hesitation to build the tension.You know what’s the best part of both enemies to lovers and friends to lovers? The pinning era. The time when they are both unsure how the other is feeling, not sure how they are feeling and they are just dancing around the possibility not willing to take that risk and step forwards. This drama delivered in that aspect: Ohara Yamato with his repressed love and Ashiya Kakeru struggling with understanding his changing feelings.
While the lead characters were obviously the stars, I have to say my heart was also stolen by Hosaka Yui played by Matsumoto Leo and Ohara Mikoto played by Konno Ayaka. There was something really unique about these characters and I appreciated how both were rather bold, but different flavour.
The drama mixes all the typical tropes and themes associated with the genre and delivers them in a fun way. You have your favorite pinning against various surfaces, jealousy over each other, the bestie who understands everyone’s feelings better than they can themselves, pushing the boundaries, creating the boundaries, 5 stages of grief when your friendship moves into more romantic territories.
Performance wise it was good, but nothing truly noteworthy. Standard good quality. I did like how expressive Kashiwagi Haru was without making it unnatural and over the top.
Overall, it was a perfect afternoon chill watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Everyone needs a break from responsibilities.
A cute and well paced romance between actor Shibuya Taikai and kindergarten teacher Aota Aika, focused on finding happiness.This drama is pure sweetness sprinkled with good old misunderstandings and noble idiocy. Far less infuriating than other titles with similar tropes, sadly it does make you roll your eyes with some of the plot progression.
Shibuya Taikai, even though a popular actor, is an awkward, focused on his family man who seeks little interactions with other people. Taking the role of the head of the family and to some extent a parenting role for his sister. And then he meets Aota Aika and slowly, but surely she puts a smile on his face and makes him want more from his life than just dealing with responsibilities the best he can.
What I found a bit disappointing is how we can truly see the depth of internal struggles Shibuya Taikai is facing only close to the end of the drama. One specific scene makes you understand all the previous choices that he made, but it feels a little too late.
What’s more, I actually have little to nothing to say about Aota Aika. She was cute and fun, but I don’t think she was interesting as an individual character.
The acting was great. Kyomoto Taiga presents a whole variety of different roles playing as Shibuya Taikai. The highlight of his performance was the crying scenes. He did master them, they were both heartbreaking and beautiful, because they were never exaggerated. Just well timed tears - all the expressions kept in the eyes alone.
Overall, a fun watch, probably better as a binge. Could have been a bit shorter, removing some layers of miscommunication.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The best as the support.
I honestly fail to understand how the weakest of the actors and the most basic of the plot were picked to lead the show, instead of showcasing a great, but uncomfortable to witness story of the supporting couple… make it make sense.Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy Tae Yi and Se Heon, but I also could not stop myself from feeling like it’s basically The Eighth Sense 2.0 with no improvement that would validate its existence in my eyes. Their story was unnecessarily complicated and too simplistically presented.
On the other hand, even though with criminally little screen time, I totally bought everything going on between Do Yoon and Joo Ha and if given more chance and focus, this could have been quite a refreshing concept to see in BL.
I’d love a story of how the one that protected becomes a bully and how it creates conflicted feelings in the leads. How it would be hard for Do Yoon to forget the warmth he felt when he first met Joo Ha - the hope that what he first saw is still in him. The internal conflict - for how long and how much he should put up with to keep that hope alive? When to give up?
How one magic kiss does not cure your internalized homophobia. I loved the locker scene. I loved how Seo Do Yoon said: I won't confess nor kiss you, let's just stay like that in a hug for a little bit. And that was as much as Joo Ha was conformable with at the moment, and it was fine. Relationships are almost never 50/50 all the time. There are times when one gives 80 and the other 20, and then other times when one gives 30 and the other 70. And I think they could have had something real good with this side couple. Would it be uncomfortable to watch? For sure, but some of the best stories are the ones that make you face some unpleasant feelings.
What’s more? Realistically speaking, Tae Yi was far more violent towards Se Heon, but somehow people don’;t really have as much issue with him. Poor boy was slammed across various surfaces quite a number of times.
Acting wise… it had its ups and downs. Ji Ho Geun and Kim Jin Kwon did great with lighter scenes, but the more emotional ones did not really reach me. Song Han Gyeom aced everything. It’s a fact. Kim Jung Ha surprised me with the more vulnerable scenes, especially since most of what the character presented was being a douche.
Visually speaking it was good. Each year we can clearly see improvement in the quality of production, filing and editing in Korean bls.
Overall, perfect for a binge watch, but made me crave a full story of the side couple and I will be forever salty if I won’t get it.
Was this review helpful to you?
“I didn’t come to Love Village to find romance. I came to find the final partner of my life”
And that quote presents both the best and the worst aspect of the show.I found it interesting how vastly different were the motivations of contestants in this show compared to all the dating shows with young people. Romance and thrills were almost never the priority. With how almost all dating shows are focused on the initial attraction, Love Village shines with something different.
At the same time, the production team was not quite on the same page. From participants' side we saw how they were looking for someone to be their partner, but not necessarily lover. Which is fine, but there was a disconnect on how the production team was presenting it. They kept making it seem as if these people had true romantic feelings for each other, when their interactions and conversations painted a different picture.
Some other flaws were how little interactions we actually saw - the real time progression completely did not match the episode's pacing, so when a couple started to have feelings for each other, I often questioned when they even got close to each other, when we saw them talk maybe three times. What’s more - adding contestants close to the end was questionable at best. It was obvious they won’t have a chance to even get to know others, not to mention find a partner, so what’s the point?
On the other hand, I loved Anchovy. This guy is an unintentional comedic genius. He lived in delulu land, misunderstanding every interaction he had with any women. Gold quality of content.
Also, Minane is such a kind and thoughtful woman. I do think she should start thinking about herself more, but I’m also truly impressed how she can see different situations from different perspectives. I have a lot of respect for her and how she presented herself in the show.
Overall, the show was a bit too condensed for my liking. I would love to see more meaningful interactions - slower pacing by either adding more episodes or making them longer.
Was this review helpful to you?
Oversaturated plot with underdeveloped relationships.
I’m quite conflicted about how I feel right now. Honestly speaking, the things that made me curious were not explored enough or did not happen at all. The few elements I loved were just a part of the overall messy plot that tried to include too many side characters and stories.What I enjoyed? Exploration of motherhood presented through Yu Ri, Min Jung and Eun Sook. What does it mean to be a mother? How much is a mother willing to sacrifice for her child? What makes a mother - giving birth to a child or having a bond with them? The show presented in a beautiful way the connection that moms have with their kids. That was the true heart of the show.
Going against the stereotypical depictions - in this case: stepmothers. I’m a sucker for fresh takes on the overused themes. We have seen enough evil stepmothers in the media, it’s amazing to see good examples once in a while.
The few scenes of sismance and female friendship and Oh Min Jung’s character. Min Jung was simply the best and most interesting part of the whole show, with real stakes and proper conflicts - both internal and external. Somehow, her journey was more heartbreaking, but also motivating and uplifting than anything the female lead presented.
Lee Kyu Hyung - he is an acting monster. What a performance he delivered. I rewatched quite a few of his scenes. He aced both the subtle and the exaggerated. I am even tempted to say, this was his strongest performance I have ever seen.
What I disliked or was disappointed about? My biggest issue was the dynamic between Yu Ri, Kang Hwa and Min Jung - or rather the fact they kept telling me what these characters feel for each other, but it was never really presented so I did not believe a word they said. You can tell me even a hundred times how much Kang Hwa loves Min Jung, but if you don’t actually show it, I see it as a big, fat lie. For me, the emotional connections were poorly presented and explained. I might understand what the writer and director wanted to depict, but it was not actually there in the final product.
Cha Yu Ri - both with how the character was written and portrayed. Is it me, or is Kim Tae Hee getting worse in acting with each new project? I did not buy the majority of her scenes. There was something really… fake about her delivery. The character itself also offered little to nothing. It’s the first time when I felt like the main character is nothing more, but a plot device…
Too many useless characters - wasted screen time. Did we need so many ghosts and their stories? No. At the end of the day, they were there to present the regret and the longing for life. Not to mention the new exorcist by the end that served exactly zero purpose. The same plot could have been told with the use of the already established characters.
The production was good. Your typical mainstream kdrama. They tried to solve a lot of storytelling problems with flashbacks and compilations of scenes, and while they looked nice, they also made the plot feel more empty, as nothing was truly established.
Overall, a decent watch, but not something I would recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fluctuating quality…
It’s honestly hard to judge this show. I liked some parts, I was bored with others.Starting with contestants - on one hand I appreciate how distinctive everyone’s personality and style was. It was easy to remember everyone from their first introduction and not get people mixed up. Because many of them were so drastically different, the interactions were that much more fun and interesting to watch.
At the same time, because everyone was rather far on the unique side, they truly did not feel like your everyday people, but rather high profile influencers (which some of them were, and most had some entertainment connections). The thing that is enjoyable for me in dating shows is the fact these are normal people and not celebrities… But here, the line felt blurred.
That end result was rather predictable. I was not shocked or surprised by anyone’s choices. Did it bother me? No. I know some people did not like the predictability of the show, but I honestly don’t know what they expected. These are real people, they won’t change their mind just to deliver a plot twist. It would make no sense to randomly pick someone else, and not the person you spent most time with and had some type of chemistry with.
About the hosts - while I loved the 4 main ones and Bambam fitted into that picture perfectly, I am kind of disappointed how little screen time test rest had. I questioned what was the point of even having them there, when they barely shared their opinion and just reacted to what the main panelists were saying.
For the length of the episodes - 2-3 hours long ones never felt like too much. Granted, I did skip scenes and interactions between people I did not care about, so that might be the reason why the length did not bother me much. Even with that, I still believe it’s better to show more than less with dating shows like that. The level of enjoyment depends on how much the viewers will feel like they know these people and connect to them emotionally. If you skip all the build up, and only show the highlights, it will all feel scripted and unnatural.
Overall, it was fun. I thought kdramas made me have high standards in men, but then Jung Hyun Gyu happened and he is just a walking perfection.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Too much and too little - a chaotic mess I cannot comprehend.
I am honestly still processing what I have seen. They gave me so much, maybe too much. But also so little about the important aspects…Let’s start with what was supposed to be the core of the drama - the relationship between a hearing and deaf person and potential issues they might face. For me, there was a lot of virtue signaling, and not much actually substance. Even the opening scene was honestly laughable. He failed the job interview not because he is deaf, but because he literally sat there with big eyes confused, refusing to answer any question. Valid questions can I add? They honestly completely failed at showing he was discriminated against, because of his disability, because for me he just seemed incompetent, putting his disability completely aside. And it was a recurring theme - stating a real issue, giving a bad example of it.
Not to mention that literally one sentence about how gay relationships are still not accepted around the world, even if the progress was made, when the lgbtq rights and equality was not part of the plot nor conversation even once before the last episode.
There was a lot of work I had to put in to shut down my brain as I was watching, since many times they put feelings and vibes above logic and reasoning. Not Zi Xiang learning sign language in 2 business days… My guy was fluent in a week. Then we had so many random over the top plotlines thrown here and there - the sweet home Alabama vibes with the cousin, the mafia shenanigans, the playboy secretary that basically lives double life and his mentally teen playtoy. The fiancee showed up stirring some issues, but also hinting she might be hitting it off with Shao Peng’s bestie, who was also in love with Shao Peng. Why was there so much shit happening, but so little thought actually put into presenting even one plotline of that whole mess? I don’t even want to talk about how the drama literally concluded on “emotionally abusing someone can be a sign of love” as a way to give closure to a problematic relationship between Zi Xiang and his dad.
Was the relationship between Zi Xiang and Shao Peng adorable? Yes. And that’s what frustrates me the most. Why the fuck was the show not just that? Two people with their own internal and external struggles based on their disability and past traumas finding ways to communicate with each other as their feelings grow? How great of a drama it would be.
Truth to be told, the best thing about See Your Love were the performances. Jin Yun did so well, I actually had to check if he he deaf and potentially mute (and then I saw he is a singer, well then). The way he was able to communicate so much without using any spoken words was impressive.
While I cannot comment on how accurate the sign language was, it looked fluent - there was no awkwardness in the movements, it basically looked natural.
To conclude, you know what, good for deaf community. That's equality. Hearing or not hearing, we all deserve trash dramas that represent us. Chaotic mess of a fluff drama with over the top plot that makes no sense the more you think about it, but it’s also weirdly entertaining - yes, all communities deserve to have silly fun things like that.
Was this review helpful to you?
Too safe and too commercial.
There was nothing outstanding about the show. I’m not gonna remember any scenes from it in a month, because everything was just lukewarm and bland. And it truly pains me to say that.I think my biggest issue is how for many scenes I did not feel like I’m watching Atom and Kongthap, but rather Fourth and Gemini. The further into the show we’ve got, the characters seemed less similar to how they were initially introduced. Atom was not really timid and clumsy and Kongthap went from not understanding what love is, to being pro in a relationship. I was watching Fourth and Gemini have fun playing around and flirting on screen, rather than two fictional characters and their story. And it completely took me out of the show.
Don’t kill me, but the whole drama I kept thinking: where did Fourth and Gemini’s acting skill go? Took a break? Deserved vacation? I loved them in the previous dramas, but here everything seemed… forced, some lines robotic. That said, Some of this seems to be the editing issue - leaving too much pause between lines made some dialogues sound unnatural. There were scenes that were great, but if I had to talk overall, it was more ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Since I kept seeing the actors behind these characters, I could not connect to the presented story at all. I stopped caring for their romance and individual journeys, even with how relatable they might have been on paper.
And the drama does tackle a lot of issues and concerns of youth. One that I especially appreciate is the conflict between following your friends and loved ones and following your passions and dreams. Should you pick a school that would let you cherish the closed ones and spend more time with them, or the school that would be best for your individual goals and improvement? How will you approach that dilemma? How will you deal with the aftermath of whatever choice you make?
What’s more to like? I did enjoy the second couple quite a lot. I found them to be more refreshing, cute and funny. Their scenes for sure stood out more.
Production wise it was good if we are talking about set design, directing. I have one question though - how low are the payments for PPLs for them to need so many? I felt like I was watching ad after ad, as if the show was created around different advertisements rather than these product placements being smoothly incorporated into the plot. You already have 4-5 different ads before each part starts…
Overall, I think we are passed the “nothing was wrong” standard and we can expect more and this show just simply did not meet my expectations.
Was this review helpful to you?
With how little time they spent on developing any type of relationship between the "Korean" guy and his roommate, did we really have to get any scenes reminding us of what did not really happen? Probably not. We are still left with no closure, and one could argue, there was no true beginning either.
I did enjoy Type and his mother's relationship and the fact we got to see the serious talk Type had with his best friend. After I finished TharnType, I felt extremely not happy with how they just left it. The fact we got to see them resolve the argument did put a smile on my face. I can easily say that Khom was the best character.
We got to see some aesthetically pleasing scenes, like the beach/sea scene of Type and Tharn, that, I must admit, was shot quite well. Overall, except for maybe 2 scenes, it was quite an "empty" episode, pure fanservice. At the end of the day, they simply gave the fans what they wanted to see (except for Lhong being in prison, even though everyone would love to see that). I can easily see how someone who loved Tharntype would be extremely pleased while watching Our Final Love. Since I was not attached to the show, I sadly could not share the excitement.
Was this review helpful to you?
Ever changing layers of happiness and sadness, pain and survival.
I went into this drama with a lot of trust and hope. Hwang Jin Young amazed me once with Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People, and I was ready to be amazed again - and she did not disappoint.Set around the year 1636 during the Qing invasion of Joseon, the story centers around the themes of social structures and expectations put on different social classes, inequality of genders, women solidarity, the role of the royal family, all mixed with a beautiful, well paced romance that keeps breaking your heart and mending it back together - the sweetness and the angst perfectly balanced.
The story opens with what one could describe as open ended closure - showing us the future, but just a direction of where it all went, vague frame of the characters’ fates, while leaving enough uncertainty to keep you curious and striving to make your own interpretations and theories.
The core of the show are its characters. Yoo Gil Chae is exactly what I always wanted to see from a strong female lead - realistic depiction of pure survival based on wits and determination instead of unrealistic superhero like skills. She is introduced as a naive, egocentric and slightly delusional young woman, who thinks the whole world centers around her. Her bold attitude and cunning nature is truly refreshing, even if at times cheesy.
As the drama progresses, she shows an enormous amount of emotional strength and wits. The same cunning nature she used to seduce men, she then used to keep others alive. Even though her whole behavior and demeanor changes in a matter of days, it feels organic, believable and right - all the development happens on top of already existing traits she had.
And then we have Lee Jang Hyun introduced as a resourceful casanova dressed in a veil of mystery, surprising everyone with his skills, insightful understanding of politics and unconventional takes on matters of loyalty, patriotism, marriage and love. A man who seems too perfect to ever exist. A man who can make viewers' hearts flutter with sweet teasing and playful flirting, but also sincere confessions and yearning gazes he gives Gil Chae. A man who is willing to try to stop the war for the woman he cherishes.
Compared to Gil Chae and Jang Hyun, who present this opposition to accepted social norms and values, we have Nam Yeon Jun and Kyung Eun Ae, whom I would describe as prisoners of their upbringing and expectations put on them.
Yeon Jun, the loyal subject with an idealistic idea of protecting the royal family when needed. Eun Ae, the perfect pure woman who protects her chastity. His worth lies in his devotion to the king, her worth lies in her purity that should be given only to her husband. Both characters were truly sad to watch and fascinating to analyze.
What more has the drama to offer? First of all, the amazing, and at times painful to watch social commentary, often presented in the format of contrasting scenes intertwined with each other. Patriotic moments put against complete defeat, happy celebration in contrast to upcoming invaders, inconvenience of the royal family opposed to dying subjects. Sometimes just seconds, passing moments that stay with you long after you finish watching.
What adds to the gripping storytelling is the more realistic depiction of war and how gruesome it can truly be for commoners. All the scenes of the invaders attacking villages, killing all the men, the horrifying fate of the women, struggles of the slaves and pain of the ones thought to be the enemies of the Qing. People trying to survive, people trying to get back to normal, even if the peace was not fully obtained.
Everything created ever changing layers of happiness and sadness, pain and survival. How the tragedy hits us harder thanks to the happiness we previously witnessed, and how we appreciate the joyful moments, remembering the pain the characters went through.
All that emotional impact was possible thanks to the phenomenal performances from the cast. While watching Namgoong Min in this drama, I accepted that I will stay single for the rest of my life. My standards in men reached unobtainable levels all thanks to his portrayal of Jang Hyun. You wish to be in mortal danger so he can save you, while also making you want to protect him. The perfect balance of confidence and vulnerability, playful nature and sincere love, bravery against the enemy and the fear of losing people he cares about.
Ahn Eun Jin was the perfect choice for Yoo Gil Chae. An actress skilled enough to present the pure innocence, cunning nature and mature strength in a way that it never felt contradictory. I ended up adoring the character’s little schemes, feeling the pain she was feeling and rooting for her with all my heart in times of hardships and danger.
Lee Hak Joo and Lee Da In had an extremely hard job of presenting characters whose usually praised traits became their flaws. A delivery that at times makes you feel a whole ra(n)ge of emotions. Love them or hate them, but you for sure will not be indifferent.
From the production standpoint, I cannot describe how happy I was with the styling of the characters during the turbulent times. The raw perfection of the imperfections. No porcelain like white skin. The blemishes, imperfections, dirt and sweat - all adding to the realism of the story.
And then we have the touching soundtrack. Only With Heart full of feelings of hope, the innocence of pure love hidden in Road To You, The Painted On The Moonlight filled with longing and the desperation in Unforgettable Love.
Realistically speaking, words cannot describe how much I love this drama. It took complete possession of my brain, heart and soul. It gives you sweet moments that will make you grin from ear to ear and scream into the pillow. It breaks your heart times and times again, and yet you will feel grateful for every tear it made you shed. It introduces uncomfortable topics and scenarios that will make you contemplate your own beliefs and ideas. It served me everything and I could not ask for more.
Is the show flawless? No show is. But if you ask me to name any flaws, I would struggle, because all the tiny issues I might have had seem so miniscule and insignificant it would truly feel like looking for something to criticize just for the sake of finding any negativity. One thing that bothered me slightly in the later episodes: there were some unclear time passage issues, the contextual hints of how much time passed were not always clear and it affected the understanding of the characters, their motivations and emotions. It was not extremely hard to figure out, but it did require a bit more analysis and thinking.
(Some additional analysis and thoughts about the ending of part 1 in comment below under spoiler).
Was this review helpful to you?
Nothing Happens, Vibes Occur - Sponsored by Photovoltaic Panels.
Nothing happens, but it’s still somehow interesting. That's a long story short of how I would describe the drama. It just flows in an even pace filled with either fun, lovely and heartwarming interactions, or rage inducing ones. But the plot is barely there. It’s mostly about characters and their interactions - vibes fueled. And the characters were not even that outstanding.Starting with our male lead - Lin Yu Sen who was so perfect it was kind of boring. I am extremely grateful for that initial light pity party he was having and a tiny bit of mischievousness from him towards the female lead. That said, I don’t really have issues with him having less presence than the female lead. For me no matter the drama, one of the leads will always be more of the focus. I just wish he was a bit more than a supportive boyfriend. Even his own personal struggles seemed more like a way of showing how inspiring and encouraging Xi Guang is. Uplift women in dramas, yes. But you don't have to leave men behind.
Nie Xi Guang on the other hand was actually a well written female lead with solid, but realistic character development focused on finding her own path, drive and goal in life. She slowly learned how to stand up for herself and speak honestly about her grievances - she was never a doormat, but she for sure gained more sass with every episode. As for the flaws - questionable taste in men at least in her younger age. I do think she was a bit too old for this level of fascination over the second male lead and how long it took her to move on. Especially taking into consideration how he treated her.
And here comes the cherry on top of the dama: Zhuang Xu, so annoying he became my favorite character. Yes, I hated him to the core, but at the same time when they kept him hidden for a few episodes I missed him. Mr. Audacity Wood stole the show for me and both the external conflict/misunderstanding and his internal issues were the most interesting aspects of the plot. Honestly though - where did the audacity come from? So little self confidence, so much self-doubt and victim complex, yet the audacity unmatched by the rich cold CEOs.
For more supporting characters we had the initial friend group which was rather basic. We did manage to get one amazing scene showing that at least one of the girls was truly Xi Guang’s friend, but overall they were there to fill the shots.
Work colleagues were better personality wise, but even they slowly vanished and lost their individuality. This drama never had friendship in its focus and that’s slightly sad. Out of all the relationships outside of the leads, one that was the best developed and shined the brightest was Xi Guang and her little brother.
We also got the standard family drama. On Yu Sen side the “competent male lead versus incompetent rest of the family” shenanigans. Glad it never developed into anything more than a side story that made a comeback every few episodes for a few minutes. On the female lead side we had the dad with too much unfounded pride and his evil (and also incompetent) girlfriend with a daughter (who was also incompetent - as you can see everyone, but the leads and the people they liked were incompetent).
How was the romance? Nice. And take it as a compliment. There was no ridiculous drama and angst between the main couple and even the initial misunderstanding did not lead to outrageous twists. Their whole relationship was based on both great communication and the underlying conflict based on misconception/misunderstanding - and it did make sense, somehow. There weren’t any massive ups and downs - this is for sure not a rollercoaster of emotions. More like a nice walk along the riverside accompanied by rustling trees, singing birds and the newest, most advanced, best in the world, innovative, groundbreaking and saving global climate Chinese photovoltaic panels.
So yeah, let’s all agree this drama is as much of a cute romance as it is an ad for a specific branch of the Chinese market (and just a tiny reminder that China also excels in neuroscience, in case anyone forgot). Maybe 20% of the business related scenes actually had an impact on the leads and their development in terms of their character and career, the rest was just long ass explanation how amazing PVs are, how China is going to be pioneers in that market, how it all works and what kind of profits and benefits it has. An ad. I skipped all these scenes and I’m not even sorry.
As for the production, I am convinced from episode 23 they changed people involved in filming and editing the show - the improvement of the quality was so obvious. The first 22 episodes were rather empty, simple and lacked depth and definition. From episode 23 be it use of light, framing scenes with forefront blurred objects, colors - everything was so much better, richer.
For the acting I mostly want to talk about Zhao Jin Mai since she stood out amongst her co-stars. The way you could feel everything Xi Guang was feeling. My favorite scenes were for sure the few confrontations she had with people in her life and how she firmly stood her ground, simply because there were so many emotions behind what she was saying. These were not just a “girlboss” badass moment. You could also feel all the disappointment, frustration, resignation, sadness and frustration. These scenes on one had made you proud of her, but also sad for how long she was keeping it all in not allowing herself to truly express her feelings.
Song Wei Long was fine. I guess that's a compliment. I feel like his acting is really reactionary - he acts on cue without being immersed in the character he is portraying.
Then we have Lai Wei Ming. I have no idea why he was so all over the place, since I know he can do better, but I lived for the sick pathetic vibe he gave me. It just added to the frustration and rage I was feeling when he was on screen. No idea what kind of tips the director gave him, but it did not work, but at the same time somehow worked. And that styling - dude looks like he was one foot in the grave the whole show. They did him dirty.
Overall, I feel like this is a drama you can enjoy in two cases: you truly adore the “nothing much happening, all we have are vibes, but these are good vibes” dramas, or when you are in a specific mood for a slow pace sweet romance with just enough plot to make you stay till the end.
Was this review helpful to you?
I have no issue with pure fluff dramas, but they have no issue being this long.
I think this show is actually kind of like Chinese medicine - you won’t get spectacular results, but it will sooth your mind and heart. But it also somehow left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.I do think this is a rather nicely delivered and healthy romance and great chemistry. The progression of feelings between Su Ye and Xi Fan had such the right pace. I enjoyed Xi Fan’s friends. Loved her family. Even though I am not convinced with the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, I think they did an amazing job with balancing it with western medicine - showing the pros and cons of both in the larger picture (and not claiming TCM can cure cancer or something). And if the drama was truly just them falling in love and some background progression at work, with less characters, that would in fact be a great drama for me.
Sadly, I think my biggest issue was the fact it was not really a pure fluff feel-good type of a show. Both leads had to deal with truly serious issues that were negatively impacting their lives, but these issues were introduced, not developed and then had a quick closure. So I could neither just chill watching the drama, nor I could get in depth about the themes they were introducing. Because they never truly explored these conflicts and issues and just glossed over them, the whole show just felt flat.
Then we have the difference in quality of writing between Su Ye and Xi Fan. One was a layered character with real flaws, real struggles and nice development (Xi Fan), one was stagnant with no versatility, too perfect to exist (Su Ye). By all means he felt like a supporting character for Xi Fan’s story. And while I was also in love with him at first, at some point I wanted to see a little bit more.
The acting was great. I wouldn’t say I was especially amazed by any of the performances (it’s not the best of the year type of situation), but they for sure satisfied me. The chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han was refreshingly natural.
Production wise, I for sure loved the little addition of herbs description at the beginning of each episode - took screenshots of every one of them. I do think they overdone the slow motion candy sweet romance styling for some scenes though.
Overall, I know many people loved it, so did I at first. But the drama lost me somewhere in the middle and I never got back on the hype train.
Was this review helpful to you?
This had no business being this long.
Taking into consideration the unexpected, but extremely anticlimactic ending that made me regret ever starting this show, I’d say this should have never had more than 20 episodes.Sometimes I’m fine with just the journey being the trip of a lifetime while watching dramas, even if the destination turns out to be a dumpster. Sadly, at some point the cases started to be boring. Visually speaking - beautiful. The innovative (yet extremely ridiculous) concept of psych gave the writer and director a free from jail pass to show the most wacky set designs and over the top representations of reality. But the plot itself? Ain’t special.
They set up this mysterious mastermind behind all the deaths in the city, told me he has some elaborate plan, and when we finally find out who he is and why he did what he did… I truly never saw a dumber plan ever. It made no sense. Did he want to fail? I just don’t understand why a good 80% of the plot happened - it was completely useless.
On the topic of useless - female lead. Why did she exist, except from getting in danger so Jiang Shuo can worry a little bit. The plot would not change even a little bit without her. And it’s not like she was awful - quite fun, loveable, energetic, enthusiastic. Does not change the fact she was there just for the sake of the romance, that was not needed anyway. What made me even more angry? She was shown to have some mad fighting scenes that she stopped using after a few episodes and literally any random person could overpower her.
The actual main duo Jiang Shuo and Qin Yi Heng were fun to watch, though I feel like most of the on screen chemistry happened on Liu Dong Qin's side. One could easily fool me, it's a censored romance type of a deal.
As I already said, visually speaking the show was amazing. I took almost 500 screen shots, I think that says it all. Especially liked a few horror elements in the earlier episodes. If only they improved the wire work and green screen - these, as basically a standard in Chinese dramas, were laughable.
The performances were solid. I don’t think any of the characters had enough depth for the actors to struggle with the delivery. Nothing seemed off.
Overall, I just get angry when I think about the ending. It hits too many things I dislike. Sadly, if one does not like this type of ending, it makes the whole drama seem pointless. that’s me - I feel like 90% of things that happened were pointless.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yeo Joon is for sure the star of the show, the most interesting and well portrayed character. They did a good job with his introduction and character development. It was gradual and realistic. We witnessed him try to fight his demons alone, still learning how to open to others, even as the drama got closer to the end. Park Ji Hoon did an amazing job acting - some scenes giving me real goosebumps.
That said, it was disappointing to see just a little bit of the screen time used to explore his relationship with the family, seeing how it defined who he was and how he acted for the majority of his life... so for it to not have more importance in the healing aspect was a bit... weird?
Soo Hyun might be the main character, but he did not get enough screen time as one. With that, his character development is nowhere near as well written as Yeo Joon's. It was not as organic and natural. He was one of my favorite characters, so I was a bit sad with the fact there wasn’t more focus placed on him.
And then there is the issue of Soo Hyun being straight in the show, when he is gay in the webtoon - truly hate it. It’s infuriating. They could have not given him any love line and use that time to develop his character more. Some people can ignore that, but some people would not pick up a show that is straightwashing characters, so do with this information what you want.
Last but not least from the three leads of the show: Kim So Bin, who technically could have worked as a main character, if she would be well written and incorporated into the story. She got a good character introduction, they set up some nice conflicts - both internal and external… but then did nothing with them. Her existence revolves around Yeo Joon - she is there for him to like, to make him want to change, to save her…
She had enough screen time for an amazing development, it was just not given to her. Even almost at the end of the show... she is there to be saved by Yeo Joon after making stupid decisions and not being able to say no. By that point she should have been more than that.
Young Ran and Mi Joo showed a realistic portrayal of "love rivalry" between friends. As much as I dislike the love triangle and how unnecessary it was, I still appreciate it gave us a good representation of female friendship.
That said, as individual characters, I find it sad most of their arc is focused on unrequited love as if they don't have anything else going on in their lives. Especially with Mi Joo… girl needs a hobby or something.
For a show that is suppose to focus on healing, realistic portrayal of college life and growth, the lack of consequences characters faced is staggering. How they resolved some of the conflicts involving the seniors was simply unrealistic. Sorry, but you cannot make a character that unlikeable and then for no reason say “well… maybe they are not that bad after all” - yes, yes they are unless you give me character development which would make me believe they are not trash.
Honestly speaking, I went into the drama without reading the webtoon, and started reading it only half way through the show. Was hoping for friendship, and romance as side plot. Sadly, the romance was the center of the directing, getting the most screen time out of all plot lines. By the end, they started to pair everyone up, was it really necessary?
If you want to watch it only for bromance after reading the synopsis, don’t bother - just check fan made videos on youtube. Otherwise, there will a lot of skipping scenes ahead of you.
Overall: I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy even a second of At a Distance, Spring Is Green. Some aspects were great, but some were annoyingly bad. It’s a good drama for a younger audience, far less tragic and serious than the first two episodes present. As long as you don't expect a masterpiece, and are willing to forgive some underdeveloped and forgotten plot lines, you will enjoy it. The production value is obviously high, and they use the university setting well. Not to mention great summer vibes OST.
Was this review helpful to you?
